Air conditioning attachment for toilets



June 7, 1949; F. LhowENs I AIR CONDITIONING ATTACHMENT FOR TOILETS FiledMay 22, 1946 Patented June 7, 1949 UN] T ED PATENT ,I FH

AIR: GONDITIONING. ATTACHMENT FOR TOILETS "Fre'd'L. Owens, Long Beach,Calif.

Application May 22, 1946, Serial No.5?671g504 6 Claims. '1

This invention, an air conditioning attachment ,:for toilets, is amodificationof the-air conditioning apparatus disclosed in ;myapplication Serial ,No. 576,255 filed February 5, .1945, now matured asPatent Non-2,406,507, dated ;August-27, 1946,

which covers-an arrangement to be installed in a flush tank and=withthe=flush lever being-used selectively for flushing-.andairconditioning, while thismodification-covers an-attachment to be attachedto one end of the flush-tankandoperated for :air conditioning throughraising of the toilet ,seat cover, with the 'flush apparatus in thetanknated when the'cover is= closed down.

When the toiletseat-is-raised th'e'apparatus is placed in operation'andxbyleaving the seat in a raised position'thevaerating apparatus "willcontinue-operating as long as desired-to cool and condition the 7 air,and 'it' also can :be 1 installed :as a unit separate from the toilet:for straight air conditioning and can 'bedocatedato discharge into asink and the water supply obtained from the kitchen sink tap through'a:flexib'le: connection 'or hose, thus providing :a :relativelyuniversally applicable air conditioninginstallation.

The objects and advantages of :the invention are as follows:

First, to i rovide an air conditioning apparatus ein the form of anattachment which can "be applied to a conventional :toilet or can .be:mounted adjacent to a, sink or'theilike'foroperation by a conventionalwater tap.

Second, to .provide apparatus-as outlined with a Venturi type spray jetfor suction and washing Third, to provide apparatus iasoutlined which beattached to the "side of a iconventional flush. tank. and placedninoperation through raising of the seat cover of "a toilet.

Fourth, to provide apparatus as I outlined which is simplein-construction andarrangement, relatively easy to instalLlowincost,-and=economical .to operate.

Fifth, to provide apparatus as outlined which can be installed in 1 anylocation where a, supply of water under pressure and drainage facilities:are accessible, and which/apparatus requires a relatively small space.

In describing the invention :reference will "be made totheaccompanyingsdrawings in :which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevationvof a toilet andflush .tank partly brokenaway with my invention applied thereto.

Fig. '2 is a side elevation-lof Fig. 1. .Fig. 3 is anenlargedsectional-elevationthrough the air-conditioning chamber.

The invention isillustrated as -vapplied to'-;a conventional toilet|0=througha special flushing connection 1 I i which replaces thestandard "connection and which is quite-easily substituted-and includesan aerating chamber 1 2 which is *provided with a hook member it formedasan extension 45 of one side-w'all lfirandarr-angedto hook'over'the topof "one side :wall of the-flush tank l'l'. This-extension,:thoughnotsoshown, can, if so desired, :be iormedwithout-th'e hook :and-insteadcan-be;prov-ided with-holes for fastening to a wall.

In addition to the side wall Hi, the aerating chamber has another sidewall I 8, a :front wall l9, azrear wall"2il, a perforated cover 32!and:a bottom .22, a support 12-3 for-deodorant, and ea .series ofinverted aL-shaped baffles 24,25 and 26 which extend between the frontand backwalls,

with the first and third 'baffies :respectively "24 and '26havingtheir-vertical legs extending only part way down to the bottom orto 'the sump water level to provide air gpassages at'the lower ends, andthe second ".bafile :25 extending down into the sump below the waterlevel :to form a seal. The intermediatezbaffle 25 has-passages -21formed inthe horizontal leg :preferablynearthe side wall it,andthe-support1-23 has passages 28 formed throughout its extent..threebafiles are shown the invention is not so limited.

Though only A fluid trap 29 projects upwardly into the chamber and isarrangedto maintain the .water level 39 above the bottom'3l of thebaiile '25-and eachalternate bafiie-tifthere are more'than three. AVenturi tube 32 ext-ends'upwardlyto a point above thelower edge'3'3 ofthe bafile 2 B, anda jet 35 discharges axially throughithe pipe 13.2.

The jet 35 is connected through a T 36 :and pipe 31 Withra'valve 38which is-opened'or released to open when the'seat '39 is raised, beingindicatedas being normally 'opened'byxa spring flil andclosed bya'finger 4| attached to the cover 39. A supply pipe-42 or hose or'otherflexible conduit connects thevalve to a source of water underpressuresuch 'asithe 'fiush tank. supply pipe "43. The other'connectionfl, locatediin the 'im- .pulse zone 'of the jet is connected to thespecial flushing connection t! of a flush tank through .a pipe 46, and adrain ipipe '41 connects the f trap 3 29 with the flush connection IIwhich functions as a suction chamber.

Normally the seat cover 39 is closed, which through the finger 4| keepsthe valve 38 closed. When the cover is raised, the spring Ml opens thevalve and water under pressure is ejected through the nozzle 35, intothe venturi 32 through which it passes upwardly in the form of a spray,being projected as indicated at 38 against the horizontal leg of thebafile 24 and drawing air from the flushing connection H, or suctionchamber through the pipe 46 and connection 44 and projecting it upwardlywith the spray, the major portion of the water separating and beingcondensed on the baffle 24 and draining back to the sump as indicated at49, the mixture of air and moisture passing through the curtain of water49 and passing up between the vertical legs of the baflles 24 and thencethrough the passages 27, then back and down between the vertical legs ofthe bafiles 25 and 26 and around the lower end of the baflle 26 andthence upward between the bafile 26 and the side wall f8 of the chamberand discharging into the chamber 50 which may be supplied with anydesired deodorant or aromatic 5|, the separated water being drained backto the flush connection each time that it rises above the trap 29.

The trap 29 forms a seal for the aerating chamber, and the vertical leg25 in conjunction with the body of water in the sump forms a partitionto require a predetermined path for the air-Water mixture for completecirculation and separation. A trap 52 is also supplied for the overflowpipe 53 in the tank to seal the upper end of the flushing connection.

When the seat cover is lowered it automatically closes the valve andterminates operation of the system.

For straight air conditioning purposes, the tank 12 can be hung on awall or the like, with the pipe having an attached air intake pipe orsuction chamber 45 open at both ends and discharging into a suitabledrain, such as a sink, and the valve 38 connected to any suitable sourceof water under pressure such as to a kitchen faucet, through a length offlexible tubing substituted for the connection 42, under whichconditions suitable hand control means (not shown because such controlsare well known in the art) would be provided for the valve.

For purposes other than for toilet installations the suction chamber 45can be coupled close to the aerating chamber IE to provide a verycompact unit, this merely requiring the substitution of nipples or shortlengths of pipe for the pipes 31, 46 and 41.

Thus a very compact and efficient apparatus is provided which can becoupled to suit the specific conditions of aerating desired, and whichcan be installed in any location where a source of Water under pressureand suitable drainage means is available.

I claim:

1. An air conditioner comprising; an air-water separating chamber havinga sump, a jet pipe, and a circuitous path formed therein and dischargingthrough the upper end of the chamber; a suction chamber; a source ofWater under pressure; a spray nozzle having communication with saidsource of water under pressure and a control valve therefor anddischargin into and through said jet pipe into said air-Water separatingchamber and a communication between said suction chamber and the outletof said spray nozzle for drawing air from said suction chamber anddischarging the same with the spray from said spray nozzle through saidjet pipe for thorough washing of the air; said circuitous path includinga series of bafiles forming forward and return passages therebetween;and a trapped drain for said sump; said suction chamber consisting of atoilet flushin connection, a pipe communicating between said flushingconnection and said trapped drain; said control valve consisting of anormally open valve; a finger projecting from and mounted on the reawardend of a toilet seat cover with said valve mounted in cooperativerelation thereto, and with said finger closing said valve when thetoilet seat cover is closed and releasing said valve to open when thecover is raised, and a trap for a flush tank overflow pipe, and meansfor mounting said air-water separating chamber on one end of a flushtank.

2. An air conditioning unit comprising; an airwater separating chamberhaving a trapped drain extending upwardly from the bottom thereof tomaintain a predetermined level of water in the chamber, and having ahorizontal perforated partition in spaced relation to the top and aperforated cover for the top; a series of inverted L-shaped bailleshaving horizontal legs of different lengths with the ends of the legssealed to one side wall of the chamber and vertically spaced, and withalternate ones of said horizontal legs having perforated end portionsand with the depending legs horizontally spaced relative to each otherand to the other side wall of the chamber and with the intervening onesof said depending legs terminating in spaced relation above the waterlevel and the alternate ones extending below the Water level to form awater seal thereat, and with the sides of said baffles sealed throughouttheir extents to the respective front and back walls of said chamber andforming in conjunction with the Water seal and the other side wall ofthe chamber and perforated end portions a circuitous water-airseparating path; a jet pipe projecting upwardly into spaced relation tothe horizontal leg of the lowermost bafiic; a jet and a source of waterunder pressure for discharging upwardly through said jet pipe, and asuction chamber in communication with said jet pipe. and a valve forcontrolling said source of water; said one Side wall having a hookmember at its upper end for attachment over the side wall of a toiletflush tank; and said suction chamber comprising a toilet flushingconnection having said trapped drain in communication therewith, andsaid valve being mounted in cooperative relation for control by the seatcover of a toilet, and a trap for the overflow pipe of a flush tank forsealing the upper end of the toilet flushing connection.

3. An air conditioning unit comprising; an airwater separating chamberhaving a series of bafiies therein forming a circuitous air-waterseparating path, and having a perforated horizontal wall in spacedrelation above the baffles and a perforated cover for the top andforming a deodorant container therebetween, and a trap for the lower endof the chamber to maintain a predetermined level of water with certainalternate bailles sealed at the lower ends thereby, a Venturi tubeextending upwardly into said chamber and having a jet and a source 01Water under pressure and a control valve therefor and having a suctionline in communication therewith within the impulse zone of the jet;means for attaching said unit to a toilet flush tank having an overflowpipe; a trap for the overflow pipe; a toilet flushing connection havingsaid suction line and a drain for said first mentioned trap incommunication therewith; and valve operating means for the cover of atoilet seat with said control valve mountable in cooperative relationthereto for control by raising and lowering of the cover of the toiletseat.

4. An air conditioning unit comprising; an airwater separating chamberhaving a series of bafiles therein forming a circuitous air-waterseparating path, and having a perforated horizontal Wall in spacedrelation above the bafiles and a perforated cover for the top andforming a deodorant container therebetween, and a trap for the lower endof the chamber to maintain a predetermined level of water with certainalternate baifies sealed at the lower ends thereby, a, venturi tubeextending upwardly into said chamber and having a jet and a source ofwater under pressure and a control valve therefor and having a suctionline in communication therewith Within the impulse zone of the jet; saidunit having a hook member to hook over the top edge of a toilet flushingtank having an overflow pipe; a trap for the overflow pipe; a toiletflushin connection having said suction line and a drain for said firstmentioned trap in communication therewith; an operating member formounting on the hinged end of a toilet seat cover; said control valveconsisting of a normally open Valve and mountable in cooperativerelation to said operating member for closing the valve when the seatcover i closed and for releasing the valve to open when the seat coveris raised.

5. An air-conditioning attachment for toilets having a flush tank havinan overflow pipe and a hinged cover for the toilet seat, and a source ofWater under pressure, comprising; a chamber having air-water separatingmeans, a deodorant container forming the discharge path for air fromsaid air-water separating means, and a trapped drain to maintain apredetermined water level and form a water seal, and a Venturi tubeextending upwardly into said chamber and a jet for said venturi tube; atrap for the overflow pipe of the flush tank; a toilet flushingconnection in communication with said trapped drain and havingcommunication with said venturi at the impulse zone of said jet, a waterconnection and a control valve therefor for said jet, and a Valvecontrolling member for attachment to the toilet seat cover andcooperatively related to said valve for operation through raising andclosing of said toilet seat cover.

6. A structure as defined in claim 5; said valve controllin memberconsisting of a finger attachable to the hinged end of the toilet seatcover and projecting rearwardly, and said control valve beingspring-urged to open and being closed by said finger when the toiletseat cover is closed and released to open when the toilet seat cover israised.

FRED L. OWENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 422,202 Furney Feb. 25, 18901,235,535 Bowman July 31, 1917 1,377,381 Worrall May 10, 1921 2,164,763Buck July 4, 1939

